The Indian ministry of defense issued a request for information intending to procure four landing platform docks for the Indian navy. The tender is restricted to Indian shipyards. However, those that respond may do so with a foreign partner and design a landing helicopter dock as a kind of amphibious assault, a warship capable of deploying troops and even tanks using helicopters and small landing craft stored inside its deck. At the time of the 2004 tsunami, the Indian navy’s largest ships for the amphibious assault were tank landing ships, which are significantly smaller and less versatile than lpds. Indian navy ships carried supplies to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Maldives. However, the tsunami response showed a long-standing deficiency. India lacked amphibious assault ships that were optimal for ferrying men and material in the event of natural disasters.
Ins, jalashua, formerly USS Trenton, is currently the only sizeable amphibious ship in the Indian navy fleet inducted in 2007. The Indian navy requests for information document sets out ambitious specifications for the lpds, in addition to transporting troops and equipment to shore. The Indian navy wants its future lpds to act as a mothership for unmanned capability and to support the operation and exploitation of all dimensions of futuristic unmanned vehicles like armed and surveillance drones. The Indian navy RFI also intends for the ships to be able to function as medical ships during humanitarian operations, complete with an operating theatre and dental facility technical specifications.
Regarding the technical specifications, the Indian navy RFI specifies they lpd’s should have a maximum length of around 200 meters and be capable of embarking 900 troops. Surprisingly, the Indian navy has specified that the land should be able to carry 16 surface-to-surface missiles and amphibious assault ships. Western navies typically carry a little offensive armament of their own in terms of weapons; the lpd should be equipped with 32 vertical launches, short-range, surface-to-air missiles, and 16 anti-ship missiles. In terms of guns, the RFI calls for the capacity to embark for ak-630ciws with an electro-optical fire control system of six hmgs with stabilized gun control stations directed energy weapon in lieu of ak-630. When developed and eight mmgs, the Indian navy intends the future lpds to carry a heavy battle load.
Tanks, the RFI states, the ship’s vehicle carriage capacity should be adequate to embark at least six main battle tanks, 20 aavs or BMP class armored vehicles, and approximately 60 heavy trucks or a suitable combination of an equivalent number of trucks and light motor vehicles. At one time. These vehicles would be transported to shore using a smaller amphibious craft that is deployed from the lpd’s dock. The Indian navy wants the future lpd to carry up to 14 helicopters, two heavy-lift choppers, and 12 special operations helicopters. Special operations.
Helicopters are typically used to carry soldiers and like cargo to battlefields, while heavy lift helicopters carry heavier equipment such as trucks and missile systems. The foremost helicopter spot is to be strengthened to operate a heavy lift helicopter with a maximum weight of 40 tons bidders. The following Indian shipbuilders are expected to bid for the Indian navy lpd tender.
